Simone Signoret

Known for ActingBorn 1921-03-25Died 1985-09-30Wiesbaden, Germany

An iconic figure in the history of 20th century French cinema, Simone Signoret (born Simone Henriette Charlotte Kaminker; 25 March 1921 – 30 September 1985) was an Oscar-winning actress whose sensuous and sensitive performances in such films as "Casque d'Or" (1952), "Les Diaboliques" (1955), "Room at the Top" (1957) and "Ship of Fools" (1965) drew critical acclaim for nearly four decades. She began in bit parts during the 1940s, eventually working her way up to supporting turns as tragic seductresses in "Dédée d'Anvers" (1948), among others. By the 1950s, she was showing exceptional depth in a wide variety of arthouse classics, including "Diaboliques," an enduring chiller that solidified her screen persona as a complex, even dangerous woman. In 1957, she became the first foreign actress to win an Academy Award for her turn as an unhappy wife in "Room at the Top," but surprised many by favoring continental productions over Hollywood. The decision was a shrewd one, as it gave her some of her best features, including "Army of Shadows" (1969), "Le Chat" (1971) and "Madame Rosa" (1977). A childhood spent under the shadow of Nazi Germany made her a dedicated supporter of human rights throughout her life, which culminated in the 1985 documentary "Terrorists in Retirement," about Eastern European Jews who fought in the French Resistance. It would be her final grand accomplishment before her death that year from cancer. Critics and audiences around the world mourned the passing of an actress whose bravery, honesty and commitment to cinema remained of the highest order.Read more

Movies & web series

Manifesto of the 121

Thérèse Humbert

Septembre Chilien

A Small Rebellion

Spécial cinéma

Terrorists in Retirement

Madame le Juge

Swiss Tour

Angel of the Night

Prince Charming

Apostrophes

Cinépanorama

Lino Ventura, la part intime

Simone Signoret, figure libre

Le Parti du cinéma

Mémoires pour Simone

A Grin Without a Cat

Le Grand Échiquier

V.I.P. Schaukel

Signoret and Montand, Monroe and Miller: Two couples in Hollywood

The Lovely Month of May

Army of Shadows

Le Traqué

Night Shift

Diabolique

La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président

Shadow and Light

The Cat

Marilyn, dernières séances

The Confession

The Benefactor

Making 'The Misfits'

Dawn Devils

Behold Beatrice

Small World

Music Hall

Is Paris Burning?

Le Voyageur de la Toussaint

Casque d'Or

Adua and Her Friends

La Ronde

The End of a Beautiful Epoch

Champs-Elysées

The Sleeping Car Murders

Un matin comme les autres

Madame Rosa

The Oscars

What's My Line?